We are a puny and fickle folk. Avarice, hesitation, and following are our diseases.
Interpretation
This quote reflects on human flaws such as greed and indecisiveness.
Ralph Waldo Emerson's quote critiques human nature, illustrating how our weaknesses—greed (avarice), lack of commitment (hesitation), and blind conformity (following)—affect our lives and decisions. He characterizes humanity as 'puny and fickle,' suggesting that these traits lead to a lack of authenticity and progress in our actions and choices.
In practice
In a motivational speech about personal growth and self-improvement.
It is plain that there is no separate essence called courage, no cup or cell in the brain, no vessel in the heart containing drops or atoms that make or give this virtue; but it is the right or healthy state of every man, when he is free to do that which is constitutional to him to do.
Few people have any next, they live from hand to mouth without a plan, and are always at the end of their line.
Men cease to interest us when we find their limitations
Tis the good reader that makes the good book; a good head cannot read amiss: in every book he finds passages which seem confidences or asides hidden from all else and unmistakeably meant for his ear.
The world belongs to the energetic.
Hast thou named all the birds without a gun?
HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character.
He is his own best friend and takes delight in privacy whereas the man of no virtue or ability is his own worst enemy and is afraid of solitude.
He will wipe the tears from all faces.' It takes nothing from the loveliness of the verse to say that is exactly what will be required
It is less difficult to bear misfortunes than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.
My psychoanalysis has equipped you with the equivalent of a train ticket to recovery. It is now your decision whether or not you choose to make full use of it.
As our knees and hips and eyesight deteriorate, we become more dependable, less impulsive, kinder, and less moody. Psychologists call this the maturity principle. My own life experience fits this principle to a T.
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